Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

18 would fly the Fokker and give an acrobatic exhibition while the formation was getting altitude, and hold the air until the formation came over the field “Tickled to death,” stated Tex. “TI haven’t had a chance to fly a scout since I got on the border. But if you don’t mind, I won’t go up until tomorrow. ‘That’ll give me two days to get my hand in before the show comes off and I’m pretty tired after the trip from McMullen.” Negotiations being satisfactorily com- pleted, Ransom and MacDowell washed up in a bucket of water, donned blouses and caps from their suitcases and were shortly under way for the city. Quarters on the post were limited. Strangely enough, it was Ransom who was thinking mest of the coming Saturday after- noon and his thoughts were bitter. Mac- Dowell always got a chance to grand-stand; and he would go out there and do some won- derful-flying before the crowd . . Natalie Brewster would be there. She and her father were coming up for the review, Colonel Brewster being an old friend of the general’s and Natalie herself planning to stay-in El Paso for several weeks. He won- dered whether Tex knew she was coming. The unworthiness of his thoughts did not occur to him then; he was very much in love, and the man beside him in the rattling jit- ney was in very truth his hated rival. The hated rival was thinking likewise. * “I wonder how soon Fitzpatrick will start to work? I sure hope old Ayres was speak- ing a mouthful. If he was, this jaunt may turn into a regular jamboree!” he ruminated, and his fatigue was forgotten at the joyful prospect. VII ee THE hard, level flying-field was a me mest colorful sight that Saturday after- 25S noon. The review was over, but eight thousand khaki-clad troops, colors and standards rippling in the sun, were drawn up along the mile-long field, a temporary grand stand for the notables present pro- viding the only gap in the Jong brown lines. Along the opposite side of the field, in front of the hangars, a seemingly endless line of automobiles held the onlookers from El Paso. Twelve De Havilands and the little Fok- ker were warming up on the line. As Tex , MacDowell, lean and bronzed, made his way . and © Adventure toward the little scout a high-pitched cry reached him above the noise. He turned and his eye caught a fluttering handkerchief wielded by Miss Natalie Brewster. As he came up to the car which held two other girls and two men he noted that Ran- som was one of the occupants. “McMullen is well represented,” re- marked Tex as he shook hands with Natalie. He acknowledged introductions to the other occupants of the car, who looked at him with much interest. “Show these El Paso folks what McMul- . len can do, Tex,’ laughed Natalie, a charm- ing figure in her cool linen suit and droopy Panama hat. Tex surveyed her admiringly. “We've got one prize exhibition here right now,” he stated with the smile that always made Natalie wonder whether he | meant what he said or not. “Ts that a compliment? If so, thanks.” “Well, I must mosey. I’m sure glad to have met you-all; hope I’ll see you again after the ball is over. Would you excuse Ransom and me for a minute?” The puzzled observer got out of the car and followed Tex. “If Dave Fitzpatrick starts anything, I frgure he won’t wait longer than today,” MacDowell said. “If anything comes up, I’ll let you know, because I may be want- ing your help.” Ransom nodded, a pleasant wave of ex- pectancy sweeping over him. Tex strolled toward the Fokker, swinging his goggles idly in his hands. He had deliberately gone out of his way to include Ransom, for he thought that was the best means of culti- vating him. WNatalie’s presence compli- cated matters, though. Apparently the only thing to do was to leave Ransom a clear field there to avoid friction. ‘Seems to me I’m getting the little end of the stick on this deal all the way around,” he solitoquized. ‘I promised the cap’n Td do my ——est, but that little red-headed firebrand is sure causing a lot of trouble.” He lounged against the leading edge of the Fokker wing, waiting for the signal to start. <A little knot of people were gathered near by, inspecting both ship and pilot with interest. MacDowell’s eyes roved over the colorful scene the field presented as he won- dered whether Ayres had given a false alarm about Fitzpatrick’s intentions. ““Nice-lookin’ little ship, eh?” said a COmicloo oN ) CO